Jonathan Trott leaves Ashes tour with 'stress illness'

The England Cricket Board says Trott will take a break from cricket for the foreseeable future and will take no further part in the tour.

Brisbane: England batsman Jonathan Trott has left the team's Ashes tour of Australia with a stress-related illness, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said on Monday. "Trott will take a break from cricket for the foreseeable future and will take no further part in the tour," the ECB said in a statement.

England's number three batsman Trott was a disappointment in this year's first Ashes series, averaging under 30 during the team's 3-0 triumph at home.

The lean patch continued as Mitchell Johnson bounced him out in both innings of the Brisbane Ashes opener, which Australia won comprehensively by 381 runs.

"I don't feel it is right that I'm playing knowing that I'm not 100 per cent and I cannot currently operate at the level I have done in the past," Trott said in a statement.

"My priority now is to take a break from cricket so that I can focus on my recovery. I want to wish my team mates all the very best for the remainder of the tour."

Trott, who scored 10 and nine at the Gabba, was in the eye of a media storm after Australia opener David Warner called the manner of his dismissals "weak", comments that were labelled "disrespectful" by England captain Alastair Cook.

"Jonathan Trott is an incredibly talented cricketer who has proven himself time and again for England," Hugh Morris, ECB managing director, said.

"The cricket side of things is unimportant now, all that matters is that Jonathan is given the time, support and space he needs to recover.

"We fully support his decision to leave the tour and the ECB will provide all the assistance we can to help Jonathan and his family through this period. Jonathan has asked for privacy while he recovers and I would urge everyone to respect that."